Wyelangta “fire buffer” space will remain

A forest authority has ended plans for a revegetation project at Wyelangta following talks with residents.

Parks Victoria and the Friends of the Otway National Park had discussed revegetating a seven-hectare area of land inside the National Park at Wyelangta, and had prepared a grant application for the work.

But after discussion with local landowners and residents, Parks decided not to proceed with the idea and the grant application will not proceed, with the land to remain as it is.

Wyelangta residents told the Colac Herald last week that a proposed rainforest revegetation project could remove a crucial firebreak near their homes, and a petition opposing the project garnered more than 100 signatures.

Farisha Keegan has lived in Wyelangta for 10 years and her neighbour Paula Flower was born in the area and has been a resident for 52 years.

They contacted Parks Victoria after learning a neighbour had been instructed not to mow the vacant space alongside the Colac-Lavers Hill Road, and the area had been sprayed with hundreds of square-metre patches.

Farisha and Paula emailed Parks Victoria about the project and the markings, and a response said the project was a community led planting initiative.

Parks told residents that the project was subject to a grant and unlikely to progress, but local rangers were happy to meet and discuss the intent of the proposed and address concerns.

Farisha said residents wanted to ensusre the site was kept clear in the future.

“This crucial barrier has been our frontline defence against devastating bushfires,” the petition said.

“Strong and effective fire management strategies are imperative in this era of unprecedented climate conditions, and undoing a natural safeguard is a backwards step.”

Parks Victoria confirmed today that the project would not proceed.

 

This article has been updated from the edition published in the Colac Herald, April 5.